This paper presents typical methods for conducting experimental tests on main shaft slide bearings. There are described their possible testing capabilities, advantages, drawbacks and limitations. Various testing methods were analyzed to find a solution able of providing a wide range of possible investigations at possibly acceptable limitations.

Water-lubricated bearings with polymer bushes are steadily gaining popularity due to their advantages, including environmental friendliness, relatively simple construction and long-term operation. Nevertheless, in practice instances of damage to such bearings occur due to insufficient or absent flow of the lubricating agent. In this study, experimental tests established that elastic polymer bush bearing is capable of operating without excessive wear for a period of at least 60 minutes under conditions of marginal water flow and typical loads for stern tube journal bearings of small ships.